Decking Ground Screw Foundations

Normally, decks or boardwalks do not need a building consent if you cant fall more than 1.5 metres from it.  However a safety barrier is required if there is a fall of 1 metre or more.  It is recommended to confirm with your local council to ensure your proposed deck does not have any district planning implications such as site coverage etc.

As a first step we recommend you measure and mark the location of the decking in your garden. This will enable you to more easily visualise the decking, how it will be used, and the impact it has on the surroundings. It is also useful to think about the type of furniture and other items you want to place upon the deck so that it is not too small, or difficult to manoeuvre around.

If you are building over a lawn it is a good idea to cover this with a landscaping fabric followed by gravel to prevent the grass and weeds from poking up through the slats of the deck! The deck joists need to be anchored into the ground.. This is ideally suited to the versatile ground screw rather than the older, heavier concrete piers or posts. Stop Digging’s installer will arrive at your home with all of the necessary equipment and will sink the beam screws according to your plan. Then, without delay, it’s time to start building!

We recommend using the span tables from NZ 3604 to determine the size and length of the bearers and joists used for construction of your deck.  You will need to ensure you use H3.2 treated framing timber.  We install the groundscrews to a laser level datum along the bearer lines, leaving you with the simple task of lifting the bearers into position and attaching to the groundscrews with coach screws or bolts! When the bearers and joists are in position, the fun begins with the fixing of the deck boards!